* Please Note: Traditional Use information is provided as a courtesy only. Although we have done our best to review the validity of these uses and we continue to revise this information as new data emerges, the traditional uses indicated on this page for this product may be wrong. This information is based on Traditional and Folklore Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA and is not necessarily based on scientific evidence from any source. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Hydrastis canadensis L., (Ranuneulaceae). Commonly called Goldenseal or hydrastis.
Source
Goldenseal comes from the dried rhizomes and roots of goldenseal, a New World plant. Modest amounts are exported to Europe.
History
Goldenseal is a native American plant, originally used by Cherokee Indians to treat skin diseases. In the early 1900s, goldenseal-containing tonics were popular for treatment of upset stomach and menstrual disorders. Teas made from goldenseal are said to relieve canker sores, and stomatitis (inflamed mouth). Use of goldenseal was negligible until the early 1990s when a false rumor began to circulate that drinking goldenseal tea would allow illicit drug users (especially marijuana smokers) to avoid detection.
Traditional Claims
Goldenseal is used for the treatment of inflamed mucous membranes, especially of the upper respiratory tract, for eye irritation, excessive menstrual bleeding, and upset stomach.
Commission E Recommendations:
Goldenseal is not mentioned in Commission E.
Proven Effects
The active ingredient was thought to be a compound called hydrastine. More recently, attention has focused on another substance present in goldenseal, but in much smaller amounts, called canadine (also tetrahydroberberine or just berberine). Berberines are found in many other plants, including the opium poppy, but usually in much higher concentrations. Berberine is toxic to insects and vertebrates and prevents the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Tests in the laboratory suggest that berberines have the ability to disrupt enzyme systems in bacteria and parasites. Tests on patients have shown that berberine is a very effective antimalarial and antibacterial agent. This ability to fight infections may explain why herbalists often combine goldenseal with echinacea, a herb that stimulates immunity.
Dosage
From 0.5 to 1 gram of dried rhizome and root, or 2 to 4 milliliters of 1:10 tincture two to three times a day.
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Directions
2-3 capsules, 3 times daily.
Ingredients
Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis) - 450 mg
Cautions
Avoid use during pregnancy. Those with ragweed allergies should use sparingly.
Concerns
There are no reports of serious toxicity and the amount of goldenseal in an individual serving of most commercially sold products is so low that toxicity would be unlikely. But in laboratory studies, when very high doses are given to laboratory animals, irregular heartbeats have occurred. There are no relevant clinical studies. In fact, there are fewer than 20 papers in the scientific literature analyzing the actions and effects of hydrastine. Given that goldenseal is one of the best selling herbal products in the United States, the lack of serious scientific studies is distressing.
Warnings
None, except perhaps for pregnant women. Even though goldenseal has never been proven to cause uterine contractions, most European regulatory agencies recommend against its use during pregnancy.
Drug Testing
Contrary to all commercial claims and endorsements on the Internet, goldenseal-based products will not interfere with any of the commonly used workplace urine screening tests. The directions on such products almost always include drinking large quantities of water with the goldenseal, and it is the water that helps produce a negative test result, not the goldenseal. Urine drug tests are not considered positive unless a certain amount of drug (the amounts are set by the U.S. Government) is present. If marijuana metabolite is present, but at concentrations below 50 ng/mL, then the test result is called negative. If the urine contains 51 ng/mL, the result is called positive. A regular marijuana user who had smoked marijuana two days before being tested might still have 60 ng/mL of metabolite in his urine. But, if half a gallon of water was drunk just before giving the urine sample, the urine would be diluted, and the concentration might drop - just for a few hours - to below 50 ng/mL. Berberines can be detected in the urine and, in the not too distant future, some laboratories may begin testing for them.
Additional Information
Herbal Select supplements offer the consistent quality, potency, selection and value that are key to an effective natural health care program. Herbal Select is a Canadian company with more than 10 years of specialized experience in responding to unique natural health concerns.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
